European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 1, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I hostages a year of drama roman mini former hostage Terry Anderson smites As he is greeted by his sister Peggy say upon his arrival at Wiesbaden air Force  captives free at last by Gary Pomeroy staff writer As much of the worlds focus turned to the military buildup in the persian Gulf the status of 12 Western hostages held in Lebanon a including six americans a was relegated to the background As the year began. But their plight dominated headlines by Midsummer when . Secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellar embarked on a series of diplomatic Maneu vers that led to Freedom for All the americans. By years end Only three westerners remained in Captivity. Although five hostages a including americans Frank Reed and Robert Polhill a were released in 1990, the ordeal seemed unlikely to end for those who remained in control of the various pro iranian groups. In March Muslim shiites reported that Syria and Iran had agreed in principle to seek the release of All hostages. A published report indicated that a these efforts might result in setting free one of the captives probably a .  the next four months were filled with a Broad Range of threats rumours of hostage releases and denials of hostage deals. On aug. 8, British journalist John Mccarthy was released after being held in Lebanon by the islamic jihad since mid-1986. The 34-year-old said his captors sought a a full Exchange of Western hostages and prisoners from Lebanon held by the israelis. Mccarthy carried a letter from his captors to Perez de Cuellar which called for Israel to release about 400 lebanese prisoners. The letter set off a series of negotiations led by Perez de Cuellar and the . S special hostage negotiator Giandomenico Picco. On the Day Mccarthy was freed. Frenchman Jerome Peyraud was taken captive in Lebanon by a previously unknown group the organization for the defense of prisoners rights. The 26-year-old French Relief worker was released three Days later. A few hours after Peyraud was freed american Edward Austin Tracy 60, was released by the revolutionary Justice organization ending 58 months of Captivity. A a in a surprised the world is still Here Quot the Book Salesman and sometime writer from Rutland vt., told a press conference in Syria shortly after his release. In late september briton Jack Mann 77, was freed after More than two and a half years of Captivity. Mann a release came As somewhat of a Surprise since Israel had not yielded to the kidnappers demands to free lebanese prisoners reports said. The revolutionary Justice organization said it had decided to free Mann because of the a immense efforts Quot of Perez de Cuellar. On oct. 21, Israel and its Allied militia in Lebanon released 15 prisoners. Within 24 hours american Jesse Jonathan Turner was released by the islamic jihad captors who had held the Beirut University College math instructor since Jan. 24, 1987. After his release Turner said that he had kept his spirits up during Captivity by  the Day he would meet his daughter Joanne who was born five months after his abduction. That dream came True three Days later while he was undergoing medical treatment at the air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden Germany the traditional Stopover Point for freed american hostages. The hostage dilemma took a dramatic step on nov. 18, when american Thomas Sutherland and briton Terry Waite were released by their islamic jihad captors. Sutherland 60, was Dean of agriculture at the american University of Beirut when his car was ambushed coming from the Beirut Airport on june 9, 1985. Sutherland said after his release that his abductors had mistaken him for Calvin Plimpton who was then the president of the american University in Beirut. Sutherland a wife Jean who had lived in Beirut since her husband s kidnapping had left for the United states less than 24 hours before his release because her 88-year-old father died in Iowa. Informed of his release Enro Ute to the funeral she cancelled her flight to Iowa and met her husband in Wiesbaden Germany. Waite 52, a British envoy of the anglican Church was seeking the release of foreign hostages when he was captured on Jan. 20, 1987. Upon his arrival in Lyneham England Waite told greeters that he had been in chains for his entire 1,763-Day Captivity and was in isolation for four years. After the two were released Perez de Cuellar said that the kidnappers had offered to free All the hostages by Christmas. Two weeks later the three remaining american hostages a Joseph Cicippio Alann Steen and Terry Anderson a were set free. Cicippio 61, was freed by his revolutionary Justice organization captors on dec. 2. He had been the acting comptroller of the Beirut american University when he was kidnapped on sept. 12, 1986. Steen 52, a Beirut University College journalism teacher at the time of his capture was freed by the islamic jihad on dec. 3. He had been abducted v.  Turner. The following Day Andersons 2,455 Day ordeal ended when he was freed by his islamic jihad captors. In Syria he was greeted by his daughter Salome who was born six months after his capture and her Mother Madeleine Bassil. A i am ecstatic Quot said Andersons sister Peggy say upon her arrival in Wiesbaden to wait for her brother s arrival. Say crisscrossed the Globe meeting world leaders diplomats terrorists and spies in a relentless Effort to keep the plight of the Western hostages fresh in the minds of All who would listen. Anderson the longest held and the final american hostage received enormous International Media attention. As the year Drew to an end the Fate of the three remaining hostages was Uncertain. Two German hostages Heinrich Striebig 50, and Thomas Kemptner 30, were abducted by unknown gunmen in May 1989, in Southern Lebanon. Their captors have said they will free the germans in Exchange for two shiite Muslim Brothers jailed in Germany. Mohammed Ali Karnadi 26, was Given a life sentence by a Frankfurt court in july 1989 for his role in the 1985 hijacking of Twa flight 847 and the murder of . Navy Petty officer 2nd class Robert Dean St them in Beirut in 1985. Hamadi solder brother Abbas 31, received a 13-year prison term from a Disseldorf court the same year for kidnapping two German businessmen in Lebanon in attempt to pressure the germans into releasing his brother. The germans have repeatedly refused to consider a Trade. The remaining hostage italian businessman Alberto Molinari has been missing since mid-1985 and is presumed  richts continued from Hiie id however no information on their findings has yet been released. To Call further attention to the Issue Arthur w. Diggs then the european president of the a act began a hunger strike in Frankfurt Germany. Quot we be tried talking to the command for four years and they a he general Saint a has chosen to ignore the obvious problems of All types of discrimination that go on in his command a a Diggs said. Quot hundreds of complaints have been filed and the command has almost never taken a serious  Diggs fast lasted six Days and ended when Fletcher pleaded with him Quot to think of his health and family. In another controversial move Diggs organized a civil rights March in Frankfurt on sept. 28. The March was strongly opposed by the a act and Only attracted 17 participants. Meanwhile army Secretary. Michael . Stone sent a hand picked group of six civilians to Germany in Early october to assess the services equal Opportunity programs and policies. The six civilians each reported their findings directly to Stone who is preparing a report for Jehn and Cheney. The report is expected to be made Public Early next year officials said. Page 14 the stars and stripes wednesday thursday. January 1/2, 1992